Oxfordshire-based Hawtree, whose previous courses include Royal Birkdale, Portmarnock and Carnoustie, has pledged to design the course in keeping with the highly sensitive local environment.

But design watchdogs and conservationists claim the massive scheme, featuring two 18-hole links golf courses, a 450-room hotel, a conference centre and spa, 950 holiday homes, 36 golf villas and 500 houses, will blight a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

It is understood proposals for the resort will go before planners in the next few weeks.

Subscribe to the AJ

The Architects’ Journal is the UK’s best-selling weekly architecture magazine and is the voice of architecture in Britain

About the Architects' Journal

The Architects' Journal is the voice of architecture in Britain. We sit at the heart of the debate about British architecture and British cities, and form opinions across the whole construction industry on design-related matters